At the end of last year, YouVersion highlighted the top 10 Bible verses that were shared the most. I found the list interesting and thought that it could be helpful to understand them in their original context. Today we are looking at Ephesians 5:25-26—which according to YouVersion was the seventh-most shared verse in 2013.
The Verse:
Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, (Ephesians 5:25-26 ESV)
The Context:
When I preached through Ephesians I frequently noted that Ephesians is a beautiful story of God’s redemption. It is the story of God redeeming broken people in a broken world. The first three chapters of Ephesians outline God’s redemption. In chapters 4-6 Paul shows us how we ought to live as a result of this redemption.
In Chapter 5 we are urged to walk in love because of what Christ has purchased for us. This call to walk in love obviously impacts the way that we relate to one another in our most common relationships. In 5:22, Paul shows how the marriage relationship is a beautiful picture of the gospel.
It would probably be best for us to share not only 5:25-26 but Paul’s entire argument—which would take us to verse 33. Though Paul concedes in verse 33 that the husband ought to love his wife as himself he makes it a point that what he has really been talking about is Christ and the church.
The truth is husbands will never perfectly reflect Christ. We are but a shadow. Therefore, this verse in its context is deeply Christ-centered. Yes, it is a call to husbands but more than anything it is a spotlight on the saving work of Christ.
The Meaning:
When I preach this text I typically begin by outlining the calling that the Lord gives husbands and wives. I usually spend a majority of the time focusing on the role of husbands. And I like to do it in such a way that wives would gladly submit to such a man.
I want people to get excited about the roles that God has given us as we paint a picture of the gospel. But I also know that I preach as a fallen husband to husbands and wives that have blown it. And so after I paint a picture of the ideal husband and wife, I typically shatter that image with reality.
And then I quickly show how even though we as husbands fail in this calling Christ has not failed. I try to do what Paul has done and flip this text on its head and show how the whole thing was pointing to Christ the faithful husband.
After doing this I then try to pickup the pieces of what I tore down earlier and encourage men and women to increasingly reflect Christ in their marriages. Also noting that the power to do such a thing is given to us by what Christ has accomplished. The fact that this text is chiefly about Christ is a great encouragement in our marriages. He—being faithful—cleanses husbands and wives that don’t reflect Him quite as we ought.
It is exceedingly great news that this text is fundamentally about Christ. Yes, it is also about what it means to be a husband and wife. But that calling is built upon the foundational work of another. And for that I’m overwhelmingly glad!
Conclusion:
Ripped apart from it’s context these verses could be used as a rod upon the backs of husbands. Any husband that takes these verses seriously knows that he has failed numerous times in reflecting Christ. These verses could be greatly discouraging as he’ll never come close to the example that Christ has set.
However, these verses are primarily about Christ. As such they are a great encouragement to us as husbands. Because Christ has been a faithful husband to us (as weird as that feels to say) we are able to faithfully husband our wives. Our calling as husbands is great—but it’s a calling that is soaked in the blood of Jesus.